--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have, instead (of soot and dirt)…" description: "\"We have, instead (of soot and dirt), disorganization. We have this proliferation of goods. It's the disease of the time.\" — Cheryl Mendelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/cheryl-mendelson-30246_dirt_we-have-instead-of-soot-and-dirt-disorga_2833405.jpg" --- # We have, instead (of soot and dirt), disorganization. We… ![“We have, instead (of soot and dirt), disorganization. We have this proliferation of goods. It's the disease of the time.” quote by Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/cheryl-mendelson-30246_dirt_we-have-instead-of-soot-and-dirt-disorga_2833405.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/cheryl-mendelson-30246_dirt_we-have-instead-of-soot-and-dirt-disorga_2833405.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/cheryl-mendelson-30246_dirt_we-have-instead-of-soot-and-dirt-disorga_2833405.jpg) > “We have, instead (of soot and dirt), disorganization. We have this proliferation of goods. It's the disease of the time.” [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern society suffers from disorganization and overabundance of goods, a disease of our time. **In simple terms:** Too many goods cause chaos today. Key Takeaway Simplify and declutter to improve well‑being. Themes consumerism disorder modernity Mood reflective concerned Type cultural critical When to use this quote - minimalist lifestyle - organizing workshops - policy reform - educational campaigns Key Concepts overconsumption psychological burden Questions to Reflect On - How does excess affect mental health? - What policies can curb overconsumption? A Different Perspective Economic forces may resist simplification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Disorganization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disorganization/) [Orderliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orderliness/) [Proliferation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proliferation/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The first step in community organization is community disorganization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-first-step-in-community-organization-is-community-disorganization/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [“Disorganization inhibits happiness and increases stress and chances for failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-menounos/disorganization-inhibits-happiness-and-increases-stress-and-chances/) [Maria Menounos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-menounos/) > [If the children and youth of a nation are afforded opportunity to develop their capacities to the fullest, if they are given the knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-children-and-youth-of-a-nation-are-afforded-opportunity-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In order to achieve something, in competition with the powerful and smartly wielded influence of corporations, we need to join forces and be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/in-order-to-achieve-something-in-competition-with-the-powerful-and/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [O heart, such disorganization!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/o-heart-such-disorganization/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Here’s a list in no particular order: chaos, confusion, and disorganization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/here-s-a-list-in-no-particular-order-chaos-confusion-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“You have to have a little bit of disorganization now and then. Otherwise, you'll never really enjoy it when things go right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-have-to-have-a-little-bit-of-disorganization-now-and-then/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Liberty without discipline cannot survive. Without order and authority in the spirit of man the free way of life leads through weakness, disorganization, self-indulgence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/liberty-without-discipline-cannot-survive-without-order-and-authority/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [I find the big bang, really quite fascinating. I mean, here you have all these highfalutin scientists and they're saying it was this gigantic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-find-the-big-bang-really-quite-fascinating-i-mean-here-you-have-all/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [One of the advantages of being disorganized is the joy of discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne/one-of-the-advantages-of-being-disorganized-is-the-joy-of-discovery/) [A. A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne/) > [Thanks to my computer, I have now achieved a much higher state of disorganization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/thanks-to-my-computer-i-have-now-achieved-a-much-higher-state-of/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [Whenever we can make 25 words do the work of 50, we halve the area in which looseness and disorganization can flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-follett/whenever-we-can-make-25-words-do-the-work-of-50-we-halve-the-area-in/) [Wilson Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-follett/) > [The Greatest Weapon Used Against the Negro is Disorganization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/the-greatest-weapon-used-against-the-negro-is-disorganization/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [But if everything was always smooth and perfect, you'd get too used to that, you know? You have to have a little bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-if-everything-was-always-smooth-and-perfect-you-d-get-too-used-to/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Avoidance behavior is a response designed to protect the infant from behavioral disorganization. If we transfer this concept to adult life, we can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/avoidance-behavior-is-a-response-designed-to-protect-the-infant-from/) [Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/) ## More by Cheryl Mendelson > [“Being perceived as excessively domestic can get you socially ostracized. When I made hand-rolled pasta for a dinner, I learned the hard way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/being-perceived-as-excessively-domestic-can-get-you-socially/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [“To taste its best, wine, especially red wine, must be uncorked and exposed to the air for a period of time before it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/to-taste-its-best-wine-especially-red-wine-must-be-uncorked-and/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [Yet housekeeping actually offers more opportunities for savoring achievement than almost any other work I can think of. Each of its regular routines brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/yet-housekeeping-actually-offers-more-opportunities-for-savoring/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [I am a working woman with a secret life: I keep house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/i-am-a-working-woman-with-a-secret-life-i-keep-house/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [“What really does work to increase the feeling of having a home and its comforts is housekeeping. Housekeeping creates cleanliness, order, regularity, beauty, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/what-really-does-work-to-increase-the-feeling-of-having-a-home-and/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [“I managed to persevere partly because not everyone responded with that stare; there was enthusiasm as well. And I was struck that no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/i-managed-to-persevere-partly-because-not-everyone-responded-with/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [“Hair burns very quickly. If you have long hair, tie it back securely when you are cooking, building a fire in the fireplace, lighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/hair-burns-very-quickly-if-you-have-long-hair-tie-it-back-securely/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [“The part of me that enjoys housekeeping and the comforts it provides is central to my character. Until now, I have almost entirely concealed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/the-part-of-me-that-enjoys-housekeeping-and-the-comforts-it-provides/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [I myself love getting cookbooks and novels that some congenial person has already tried and liked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/i-myself-love-getting-cookbooks-and-novels-that-some-congenial-person/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [“What really does work to increase the feeling of having a home and its comforts is housekeeping. Housekeeping creates cleanliness, order, regularity, beauty, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/what-really-does-work-to-increase-the-feeling-of-having-a-home-and-2/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [“He was a man whose calmness reflected his confidence that he meant whatever he did-- which is different... from confidence that whatever he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/he-was-a-man-whose-calmness-reflected-his-confidence-that-he-meant/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [“Brew black tea for three to five minutes; oolong for about five minutes; and green teas for only a minute or two.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/brew-black-tea-for-three-to-five-minutes-oolong-for-about-five/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [I listen to lots of music, especially Bach, opera (all periods), German lieder, chamber music, and rock, old and new. I can't listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/i-listen-to-lots-of-music-especially-bach-opera-all-periods-german/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [Many books have mattered enormously to my life and work. 'David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens would be one of several contenders for 'most influential.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/many-books-have-mattered-enormously-to-my-life-and-work-david/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) > [So many people imagine housekeeping to be boring, frustrating, repetitive, unintelligent drudgery. I cannot agree. In fact, having kept house, practiced law, taught, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-mendelson/so-many-people-imagine-housekeeping-to-be-boring-frustrating/) [Cheryl Mendelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) [Explore all 17 Cheryl Mendelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-mendelson/) ## More Dirt quotes > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > ['Dirt Road Diaries,' in my mind, is a perfect country guy song. It speaks to the hard-working guy, and I'm excited for the fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/dirt-road-diaries-in-my-mind-is-a-perfect-country-guy-song-it-speaks/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [I spent all my time in the clouds or the dirt and that is why I think I’m successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-spent-all-my-time-in-the-clouds-or-the-dirt-and-that-is-why-i-think/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [“A diamond's happy ending is on a crown, but its beauty was formed in dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-diamond-s-happy-ending-is-on-a-crown-but-its-beauty-was-formed-in/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [I dish the dirt out, and I can take it. But why should my mother and children have to take it? In 20 years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/i-dish-the-dirt-out-and-i-can-take-it-but-why-should-my-mother-and/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [They only wanna do you dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-kingston/they-only-wanna-do-you-dirt/) [Sean Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-kingston/) > [Her father had taught her about hands. About a dog's paws. Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/her-father-had-taught-her-about-hands-about-a-dog-s-paws-whenever-her/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Truthfully, I love being in the jungle. I love it when the make-up artists come to set, they come equipped with dirt and sweat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/truthfully-i-love-being-in-the-jungle-i-love-it-when-the-make-up/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I grew up in the south, poor - on rock, dirt roads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-turner/i-grew-up-in-the-south-poor-on-rock-dirt-roads/) [Tina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-turner/) > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Texas is a hell hole, man. Dirt, cactus, lizards, dirt, cactus, the Bush family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/texas-is-a-hell-hole-man-dirt-cactus-lizards-dirt-cactus-the-bush/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [“Chapter One: The world is flat. I know it is, because for the last five hours the view has been exactly the same. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-p-dahlke/chapter-one-the-world-is-flat-i-know-it-is-because-for-the-last-five/) R.P. Dahlke > [“ground where it smells like ice and metal and dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/ground-where-it-smells-like-ice-and-metal-and-dirt/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) [Browse all 991 Dirt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have, instead (of soot and dirt), disorganization. We have this proliferation of goods. 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